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Texas Family Code - Section 161.2011. Continuance; Access To Child

Legal Research Home > Texas Lawyer > Family Code > Texas Family Code - Section 161.2011. Continuance; Access To Child

§ 161.2011. CONTINUANCE;  ACCESS TO CHILD.  (a) A parent 
whose rights are subject to termination in a suit affecting the 
parent-child relationship and against whom criminal charges are 
filed that directly relate to the grounds for which termination is 
sought may file a motion requesting a continuance of the final trial 
in the suit until the criminal charges are resolved.  The court may 
grant the motion only if the court finds that a continuance is in 
the best interest of the child.  Notwithstanding any continuance 
granted, the court shall conduct status and permanency hearings 
with respect to the child as required by Chapter 263 and shall 
comply with the dismissal date under Section 263.401.
	(b)  Nothing in this section precludes the court from issuing 
appropriate temporary orders as authorized in this code.
	(c)  The court in which a suit to terminate the parent-child 
relationship is pending may render an order denying a parent access 
to a child if the parent is indicted for criminal activity that 
constitutes a ground for terminating the parent-child relationship 
under Section 161.001.  The denial of access under this section 
shall continue until the date the criminal charges for which the 
parent was indicted are resolved and the court renders an order 
providing for access to the child by the parent.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1022, § 61, eff. Sept. 1, 
1997.  Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1090, § 3, eff. Sept. 
1, 2001.

Last modified: August 10, 2007